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Hey everyone, I purchased a brand new 2015 S550 Sedan.
It came with the stock run flat tires (i believe their goodyear eagle F1's)
I Now have 54,000 Miles.
But it seems every few thousand miles one of them has to be replaced if not 2, so the S550 has been sent to the dealer about 7-8 times so far for these reasons.
Side wall bubbles, bent/cracked rims, damage on inside of tire, everything you can expect and i'm starting to get very irritated.
The only reason i havent done anything different is because i have the Tire and wheel package so they always cover/replace whatever needs to be done.
My car is mainly a highway only car, no spirited driving.
So my questions are:
1) Is my vehicle a lemon due to this constant problem (i understand tires are wear & tear items)?
2) is this happening because the Eagle F1 sidewalls are too thin for the weight of the vehicle?
3) does anyone recommend a decent all season tire to replace with?
Ive been thru 5 tires and 3 rims (20") in 2 years. These run flats have no flex and potholes absolutely crush em. Thankfully, I have a wheel / tire package, so I havent had to pay a cent for the replacements - best money Ive spent.
Hey everyone, I purchased a brand new 2015 S550 Sedan.
It came with the stock run flat tires (i believe their goodyear eagle F1's)
I Now have 54,000 Miles.
But it seems every few thousand miles one of them has to be replaced if not 2, so the S550 has been sent to the dealer about 7-8 times so far for these reasons.
Side wall bubbles, bent/cracked rims, damage on inside of tire, everything you can expect and i'm starting to get very irritated.
The only reason i havent done anything different is because i have the Tire and wheel package so they always cover/replace whatever needs to be done.
My car is mainly a highway only car, no spirited driving.
So my questions are:
1) Is my vehicle a lemon due to this constant problem (i understand tires are wear & tear items)?
2) is this happening because the Eagle F1 sidewalls are too thin for the weight of the vehicle?
3) does anyone recommend a decent all season tire to replace with?
any help would be appreciated!
1. No lemon. But if tire pressure and alignment is off it creates stress on sidewalls and rims. Having crappy run flats with stiff sidewalls is the first thing I would get rid off.
2. See No.1
3. Continental DWS 06 are fantastic.
The question I would ask is where the rims crack and the bubbles occur. Uneven tire wear? S550 4matic like to wear on the front inside. They need an accurate alignment..
18 AMG GTC and 22 F150 Limited. Past owner 16 Maybach, 17 Brabus Smartcar, 06 Ford E150, and 22 G70
My 2016 Maybach went through three sets of rear tires in 50,000 miles with inside sidewall failures causing them to die. The failures always had a LOT of tread on them otherwise. I ended up setting the tires at 47 PSI and the tires have been doing great ever since. So the max on my tires is if I recall 50psi so 47 gives you the margin when they warm up.
So what I am saying is I ended up ignoring the gas door tire pressures.
My 2016 Maybach went through three sets of rear tires in 50,000 miles with inside sidewall failures causing them to die. The failures always had a LOT of tread on them otherwise. I ended up setting the tires at 47 PSI and the tires have been doing great ever since. So the max on my tires is if I recall 50psi so 47 gives you the margin when they warm up.
So what I am saying is I ended up ignoring the gas door tire pressures.
I have a very similar story. I went through one set of rear tires (staggered) at 25,000 miles but I went through my first two sets of FRONT tires in the same time frame. MB tech said that is just the way it is. They were OEM Continentals.
Then , I decided to go with BF Goodrich (which are made by Michelin), and I thought I would just try an idea of keeping my suspension in the Sport mode all the time , and I keep 47 or so pounds in them at all times. Voila!!! I just got 30,000 miles on all 4 tires with still some 5000 miles left on the tread , evenly worn, and this is the best you can expect on staggered tires on a 4Matic car. I have 20" wheels and she rides pretty good. Not as good as 18's and 19's on a S550/560 , but for an AMG, I'm pleased.
So the max on my tires is if I recall 50psi so 47 gives you the margin when they warm up.
FYI, in the fine print on the sidewall, it says "max cold tire pressure" so you're covered all the way up to the max printed pressure. Also, I'm pretty sure the tires will increase much more than 3 psi when warm, mine do. You can monitor the individual tire pressures while driving, I'm sure.
My 2016 Maybach went through three sets of rear tires in 50,000 miles with inside sidewall failures causing them to die. The failures always had a LOT of tread on them otherwise. I ended up setting the tires at 47 PSI and the tires have been doing great ever since. So the max on my tires is if I recall 50psi so 47 gives you the margin when they warm up.
So what I am saying is I ended up ignoring the gas door tire pressures.
Does that not generate a harsh ride or Maybach handles it? Maybach weighs how much?
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
You know, I don’t want to take anything away from the current Maybach. That said, I drove a new one in 2016 and with 20” wheels and RFT, the car did not ride NEARLY as well as my, at the time, 2015 S550 with MBC, 18” wheels and conventional tires. Most current Maybachs ride on 20” wheels and all come with RFT. Not a good set up for a car that is supposed to be the ultimate in luxury and comfort. I can understand not using smaller wheels on the great, big Maybach, but I think the wheel wells should have been expanded to accommodate 20” or 22” wheels with larger tires, offering deeper sidewalls. The Maybach should offer the best ride comfort of any MB, but it doesn’t.
That car with max inflated RFs must ride like an F-350. If not, it has the best suspension of all big cars.
With my '16 S550 currently on OEM RFs, Im ready to drop from 20s to 19 or 18" and dump the run flats. Way to rigid as is and nowhere close to my '12 S550 on Pilot Sports.
".... bent/cracked rims, damage on the inside of the tire"
YES, THAT'S RIGHT - EXTRA LOAD/WEAR PREMATURE FAILURE ON INSIDE OF TIRES......
BECAUSE A FULL FRONT AND REAR ALIGNMENT TODAY - IS ONLY "TOE" (DIRECTIONAL) ADJUSTMENT.
There is no longer essential Camber or Caster to "adjust tire contact angles" to cater for conditions encountered in day to day commuting.
It is all to do with the ever increasing speed of vehicle assembly lines.
We saw the need therefore to "re instate from the early 90's " once again - FULL, PRECISE ADJUSTMENT
To correctly resolve costly, premature edge tire wear. Fixing it right the 1st. Time.
NO MORE ONGOING TRIPS TO DEALERS OR ALIGNMENT SHOPS (or constantly changing tire brands in the belief that somehow, this will alter the inner edge wear).
The K-MAC unique patented design allows precise, single wrench adjustment. Accurately (under load) direct on alignment rack. Replacing the 4 front and rear highest wearing bushings at the same time.
W222 S Class
Front Camber and Caster #502876 K Rear Camber (and extra Toe) #502226K
2014 E350 Sport (sold), 2015 S550 Sport (sold), 2018 S560 Sport (sold), 2018 GLE43, 2014 E550
Originally Posted by Wolfman
1. No lemon. But if tire pressure and alignment is off it creates stress on sidewalls and rims. Having crappy run flats with stiff sidewalls is the first thing I would get rid off.
2. See No.1
3. Continental DWS 06 are fantastic.
The question I would ask is where the rims crack and the bubbles occur. Uneven tire wear? S550 4matic like to wear on the front inside. They need an accurate alignment..
+1 on DWS 06 Continental's, I have these tires on my 20" OEM wheels and they ride amazing. Feels just as good if not better than my 19" Michelin Primacy all season run flats.
You know, I don’t want to take anything away from the current Maybach. That said, I drove a new one in 2016 and with 20” wheels and RFT, the car did not ride NEARLY as well as my, at the time, 2015 S550 with MBC, 18” wheels and conventional tires. Most current Maybachs ride on 20” wheels and all come with RFT. Not a good set up for a car that is supposed to be the ultimate in luxury and comfort. I can understand not using smaller wheels on the great, big Maybach, but I think the wheel wells should have been expanded to accommodate 20” or 22” wheels with larger tires, offering deeper sidewalls. The Maybach should offer the best ride comfort of any MB, but it doesn’t.
I experienced the same thing, just one year later. Before I bought my 2017 S63, I test drove everything and I too feel it is all about the side wall height that makes the big difference (in any car).
If you haven't driven 20" tires it takes getting used to. They do not ride like 18" tires. The ride is much stiffer because the sidewall is almost nothing. Add to the fact that the S550 is a very heavy car. It will not ride like your grandfathers Cadillac, sorry. You must adjust for the smaller sidewall which I love because I like the stiffer ride. Not all do but getting experience at what is the new normal for a 20" wheel setup is paramount otherwise you erroneously blame the vehicle.
Let's not forget some people don't have a penchant for avoiding potholes. When you are driving a big luxury vehicle with big wheels you must be careful. Slower speeds will help tremendously.
On the Run-flats: I love my RF's as stated in many other forums. It's a beefier tire, heavier, robust and the handling, especially on corners at highways speeds (75 plus) they are amazing (Pirelli RFT's) I also go with the 45-47 psi for greater protection and handling. Because of that, I get 25-28K miles tops and I drive spirited often. That aside I swap out in the Maryland winter to 20" Continental Extreme Contact DWS 06 mentioned often on these posts. It is a highly recommended tire and exceptional in light snow yet it's too soft in my opinion. Hope that helps.
I have the 20's with Goodyear run flats and I don't think the ride is harsh at all? I am coming from a 2016 750i M suspension car. The Benz ride is a lot nicer overall in all settings. I guess it is all what you are used to and what you feel is a nice ride.
Run flats are made wit very stiff sidewalls to support the tire when flat. To offset this they run very soft compound treads that without a doubt wear faster. The idea that we allowed these Japanese car Co's devise this nonsense with no spare or jack is ridiculous. All they care about is cutting costs in every bolt of the car and this has now been adopted by every car co to compete. So now we have to deal with these tires like them or not.
I am not sure the tire pressure would increase tread wear unless you are talking about an uneven tread wear issue but it couldn't decrease overall wear as that is due to the compound of the rubber. Inflation would effect the tread to surface contact under weight but not sure about overall wear.
Has anyone ever been successful in getting a tire Co to back their so called 50k or? warranty? I have never been able to and I have never heard of anyone ever benefiting from it.
I have Pirelli's on another vehicle that are about 4 years old and have about 20k on them and the tread wear is fine but the sidewalls all cracked. I brought it back to where I bough them and got the usual speech and just
walked away.
04-22-2019, 02:27 PM
